Bruce Highway Upgrade Madness Continues

[Jonno]

http://m.sunshinecoastdaily.com.au/story/2012/04/12/call-albanese-focus-bruce/

THE Federal Government needs to "cough up" further funding for the upgrade of the troublesome Bruce Highway, Queensland's new Transport Minister believes.

With the newly-elected LNP committing $1 billion to upgrading Queensland's longest highway, Minister for Transport and Main Roads Scott Emerson said the Labor Government should follow suit.

How much should they commit?

"A lot," Mr Emerson said.

"The current government hasn't looked after the Bruce Highway as they should.

"I want them to put in as much money as they can put into the Bruce Highway. It's an important commitment to us.

"We have said to them as part of our election policies that we are willing to put $1 billion on the table as long as the Federal Government comes to the party.

"I call on Transport Minister (Anthony) Albanese to say 'look, let's start focusing on the Bruce Highway'."

Mr Emerson would not be drawn on particular areas of priority but said the highway would be reviewed by the soon-to-be formed Bruce Highway Management Crisis Group and in a subsequent assessment report.

"That's what that report will look at," he said.

"That six-month report will come back and look at where we can make real improvement to the Bruce Highway."

A spokesman for Federal Transport and Infrastructure Minister Anthony Albanese said the Labor Government had substantially increased funding since coming into office.

"If (Mr Emerson) thinks the current Labor Government is neglecting the Bruce Highway, he would have been horrified about the neglect given by the Howard Government," he said.

"We recognised the neglect so we ramped up the funding."

The Howard Government contributed $1.2 billion over 12 years to the Bruce Highway whereas the current Federal Government has allocated $2.7 billion over six years, the spokesman said.

Whilst CCR with a watertight Business Case and positive IRR needs to be reviewed the call goes out for funding unspecified highway upgrade that will just put more people on our roads and increase the carnage! 

That not change!  That is just more of the stupid policies we have had for the last  20 years!!

[#Metro]

A spokesman for Federal Transport and Infrastructure Minister Anthony Albanese said the Labor Government had substantially increased funding since coming into office.

"If (Mr Emerson) thinks the current Labor Government is neglecting the Bruce Highway, he would have been horrified about the neglect given by the Howard Government," he said.

"We recognised the neglect so we ramped up the funding."

The Howard Government contributed $1.2 billion over 12 years to the Bruce Highway whereas the current Federal Government has allocated $2.7 billion over six years, the spokesman said.

Er, so if I paid for diamond encrusting of the Bruce Highway, and it cost $3 bn, would that be a good spending of money? Just because it cost a lot, doesn't mean that it is an effective thing, just look at Eastern Busway...

I still can't see how they can do this and not duplicate the rail track.

[ozbob]

Not only is the Bruce Highway breaking apart, so are major inland highways.  The more and more trucks are put on the road network the worse it becomes.

Talking to locals at Charleville recently they are becoming frightened to use the road, such is the state of the system and the truck terror.

Rail must be ramped up.

This is what is needed -->

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5ZN5tYIBvlA&sns=fb

[Jonno]

http://www.ara.net.au/UserFiles/file/Media%20Releases/11-08-09%20Press%20Club%20Launch%20a%20Road%20to%20No-Where%20or%20on%20Track%20to%20the%20Future.pdf

Press Club Launch: A Road to No-Where or on Track to
the Future?

The Rail Industry is calling for the Government to end its love affair with cars and to recognise the real benefits of passenger and freight rail travel as it launches a report today at the National Press Club.

The True Value of Rail report has found that the savings rail travel creates can fund more hospital beds and doctors whilst removing cars and trucks from our roads and helping reduce Australia‟s greenhouse gas emissions.

According to Bryan Nye, CEO of the Australasian Railway Association (ARA), the report demonstrates the importance of rail in helping to address Australia‟s challenges of road congestion, growing carbon emissions and the rising road toll.

"Since 1985, Governments have invested more than $293 billion in our roads. Attention has focused on roads for too long. Our love affair with cars must end," he said.
The study shows that one passenger train takes 525 cars off the road. In one year, one trainload of passengers is equal to removing more than three million vehicle kilometres of traffic from our roads.
"Fewer cars on our roads means less congestion, safer roads and decreased carbon emissions," said Mr Nye.

"Australians are one of the highest polluters per person in the world. A carbon tax is not the only solution. We need to implement measures that help reduce our carbon footprint.
The True Value of Rail study has found that one freight train in place of trucks between Melbourne and Brisbane reduces carbon emissions by the same amount as a household of three going without electricity for 46 years.

"As well as being good for our environment, more freight on rail will reduce the amount of traffic on our roads, reducing congestion and making our roads safer," said Mr Nye.

"Australian taxpayers lose more than $136 million every day through road accidents and time wasted stuck in traffic. Our congested roads are hurting Australia‟s productivity. Clearly our money can be better spent.

The study also found that one trainload of passengers travelling by rail instead of car for one year reduces accident costs by an amount that could fund 130 hospital visits, 505 hospital beds per day, or 6 doctors for one year.

"The True Value of Rail study has found that rail has much wider benefits than it receives acknowledgment for. If we are to realise these benefits, strong political leadership is required. Our governments must consider the impacts of each transport mode when making investments decisions or developing transport policies for the future," continued Mr Nye.

The ,,True Value of Rail‟ study was conducted by the Rail Industry to arm Governments with the financial, social and environmental benefits that rail travel provides.

"We must take a truly national approach and recognise that state borders are no longer relevant. We must have a National Transport Plan, a Plan that would allow each mode of transport to play to its strengths," said Mr Nye.

"This is a challenging task but it must be done. Our governments must step up and make bold decisions. No more reviews, no more committees, just actions.

"The Rail Industry is committed to working with governments to improve Australia‟s transport system," concluded Mr Nye.

The True Value of Rail Key Findings
Relieving Congestion

 One passenger train can take 525 cars off the road. This is 3.2 million vehicle kilometres annually or 1000 trips Sydney to Perth

 The average freight train takes 110 trucks off the road. This reduces truck movements by around 49.7 million truck kilometres per year or 3100 times the distance between Sydney and New York.
Safer and Healthier Australians

 One passenger train reduces accident costs by an amount that could fund 130 hospital visits, 505 hospital beds per day, or 6 doctors for one year.
Reducing Carbon Emissions and Protecting our Environment

 One freight train in place of trucks between Melbourne and Brisbane reduces carbon emissions by the same amount as a household of 3 people going without electricity for 46 years.

 In one year, one passenger train reduces carbon emissions by the same amount as planting 320 hectares of trees. This would cover Melbourne‟s CBD, Docklands Stadium and Fitzroy and Carlton Gardens or an area twice the size of Newtown in Sydney‟s inner west.

 In one year, one freight train travelling between Melbourne and Brisbane reduces carbon emissions by the same amount as planting 600 hectares of trees. This would cover Sydney‟s CBD, Hyde Park, the Domain, Botanical Gardens, Pyrmont and Central Station or an area 8.5 times the size of Brisbane‟s CBD.

[Gazza]

Just a little side point, but shouldn't we have both good rail and good highways (Obviously I want the NCL duplication done first)

Other western countries have good roads and good rail.

We have neither generally.

[ozbob]

Just a little side point, but shouldn't we have both good rail and good highways (Obviously I want the NCL duplication done first)

Other western countries have good roads and good rail.

We have neither generally.

We are in a runaway damage event.  Unless they stop the massive explosion in truck traffic it will just continue to deteriorate.  Getting long haul freight back on to rail eases considerably the pressure on the roads and the maintenance can then be brought under control.  As it is, it is a slide to oblivion ..

To fix the Bruce Highway we need to enable the North Coast Line for improved freight services, otherwise we are just p%ssing into the wind ...

[Stillwater]

Now that QR National (freight) has been split away from passenger rail operations, who within the state government is actively examining the benefits to freight haulage of a duplicated and fast Sunshine Coast Line?  We know the story in respect of planning for passenger rail on the Sunshine Coast, but it is only half the story.  The current insights we have into rail freight efficiencies due to better track and duplicated track have come from the time before the QR split and, presumably, all the freight management expertise has gone across to QR National, a private company.  That is where the story ends for the time being.  We do not have in this state ownership or management of mainline narrow gauge track by the ARTC.  So, who is preparing the case for better and faster rail from a rail freight perspective and putting this case to state and federal governments?

[Mr X]

I personally don't see what is wrong with upgrading the Bruce Highway, just so long as it focuses on notorious failures in road design at spots where accidents commonly occur, dangerous intersections and blackspots AND as long as the NCL receives a full duplication at the same time.

[Gazza]

I personally don't see what is wrong with upgrading the Bruce Highway, just so long as it focuses on notorious failures in road design at spots where accidents commonly occur, dangerous intersections and blackspots AND as long as the NCL receives a full duplication at the same time.

+1, thats my attitude.

Down in Vic, people in Ballarat, Traralgon, Bendigo and Geelong enjoy Regional Fast Rail, and duplicated Western, Princes, Calder and M1 highways respectively.
Do both!

[Golliwog]

I personally don't see what is wrong with upgrading the Bruce Highway, just so long as it focuses on notorious failures in road design at spots where accidents commonly occur, dangerous intersections and blackspots AND as long as the NCL receives a full duplication at the same time.

+1, thats my attitude.

Down in Vic, people in Ballarat, Traralgon, Bendigo and Geelong enjoy Regional Fast Rail, and duplicated Western, Princes, Calder and M1 highways respectively.
Do both!

Very much agree. Both are needed, though the ordering is very important. Rail needs to be duplicated and freight put on it first, otherwise if you just go ahead and duplicate the whole highway, we'll just end up with more trucks as there's nothing stopping them, and no need to change (until the highway fills up with trucks of course). Upgrading the highway should be focusing first on the death traps that exist and designing them out, and then on widening or providing more overtaking lanes as necessary. I feel the new government has its priorities wrong.

[Jonno]

If we had good freight and long distance passenger services the we wouldn't need to do both...and we cannot afford both.

Edit: PS show me a frewway that is congested with a majority of trucks.  Doesn't exist. It is single occupant vehicles that congest our freeways...and usually just because they can!

[Gazza]

Furthermore, you can afford both, so long as the road is priced properly.

Japan is very dense, and has well developed railways...worlds best perhaps. But they still have expressways. You can take the Shinkansen from Tokyo to Osaka, but at the same time there is an expressway you can use for this journey...you just have to cough up around $96 AUD equivalent in tolls.

At the city level, Singapore was well covered by the MRT and LRT feeder lines, with more on the way. But they still had better roads than Brisbane too, but again they price them.

Western Europe has HSR and decent medium speed and suburban rail, but good roads too.

On the affordability side, in 21st century, you build a road. At some magic number in people or tonnes per hour, rail starts to becomes viable.

Sums it up well, though road subsidies perhaps push the magic number a bit higher than what it should be.

[ozbob]

In this forum, I think its also important that the mindset that the road system should not get or does not need development is wrong. There is no precedent for this anywhere

Individuals have their viewpoints.  To suggest that this is the mindset in this forum is a bit of an overstatement.

Of course we need a road system and most acknowledge that, the point is that road system is being knocked around by excessive heavy transport. Get that bulk back on rail and everything improves.  In time that will be achieved I have little doubt.

Rail operators have attempted to put more freight on the NCL but have not been able too because of lack of paths.  Another 100 B troubles on the roads.  Councils all along the Bruce are complaining about the excessive heavy transport, the road damage and trauma it is causing, the answer is obvious.

[somebody]

In this forum, I think its also important that the mindset that the road system should not get or does not need development is wrong. There is no precendent for this anywhere.

Toronto?  I think they go close if not get there.

[#Metro]

Toronto has the Gardiner Expressway - a bit like our Riverside Expressway (which, by the way, is anything but express)

[SurfRail]

Toronto also has the 401, which is the busiest urban freeway in the Americas I believe, plus all the expressways that hang off it.

They might not go for down-town freeways, but they certainly don't skimp on them altogether.

[somebody]

What I mean is that they haven't been enhancing the freeway network.  I think the 407 is the only one in the city opened since 1980, and that's more cross town, sort of equivalent to Metroad 5 or maybe the Gateway.

[aldonius]

I'm all for placing tolls on the NCL at various points for a pay as you go to help pay for its up keep and expansion. With E-toll now standard in Australia pay as you go is very practical and rather than make it a seperate system you have to get and pay for, next year when cars are re-registered, just send out the E-toll sticky with rego sticky, why make them one and the same! Qld'er pay more than their fair share for car rego so no need to add extra. At same time every car owner gets and E-toll account details and they only have to add bank account details.

I presume by 'on the NCL' you actually mean highway? Except - isn't the Bruce Highway not tollable? National Network and all that?